Couples across Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia are increasingly choosing to have fewer children, driven by a combination of economic challenges and shifting social norms. According to a recent study, fertility across the Maghreb region has plummeted to an all-time low.
This decline represents a major demographic shift over the last few decades. Since the 1970s, fertility rates across all three of these North African nations have fallen by more than 50 percent.
Why It Matters
A sustained decline in fertility rates typically triggers a major demographic transition, leading to an aging population with fewer young workers to support older generations. For developing economies in the Maghreb, this shift can place immense pressure on public pension systems, healthcare infrastructure, and labor markets. Governments in the region, which have historically focused on managing high youth unemployment, will increasingly need to adapt their social safety nets to support a growing senior population.
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